Walking in I mentally titled this one “Ghost Riduh”. However, now I have to say it wasn’t that bad. Melodramatic, lots of close-ups of Nick Cage’s face if you like that kinnd of thing. But the special effects are not bad and there are good points to the story as well…and Eva Mendes is very easy on the eyes.
A guy I work with who is a HUGE comic fan saw the movie, at the first available session, and his review was, “If it is on TV late one night and you have a really old video tape that is scratchy and fucked up, tape Ghost Rider so that, after watching a bit, you can have the pleasure of taping over it.”
I took this to mean that he didn’t think it was all that good.
I saw it this past Friday with my son and we both liked it. The fight scenes were over way too quickly but the storyline was good and the special effects were way better than what I thought they would be. I’m looking forward to a sequel.
We went to see it last nite… we found it enjoyable…
I still don’t quite get
Except for the cool 2 riders riding together bit, what was the point of slade going with him… after all, in the final fight he did ‘nothing’ (atleast not on screen).
My feeling was to tie up the scene at the front of the movie and to get a sense of a history being passed on. The Devil was pretty impotent in this one, wasn’t he?
We saw it last night too. Since Ghost Rider was never one of my favorite comics it would have been hard to mess it up. The only parts I thought were really bad were the cop scenes. They didn’t make much sense but at least didn’t detract much from the movie either.
You missed it.
Just before riding off he hands Johnny that schway cool shot gun that he used to…
Saw that, i guess I just didn’t see that as what he was saying…
He was also
Showing Blaze the way to San Vinganza or whatever it’s called
I have four ciritiques, but they are relatively small, mostly:
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Some dialogue lines were corny, although it’s no worse than Spiderman.
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Overall, the story seemed too “pat.” Too easy to see what was coming.
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Director used too many quick cuts and flashbacks.
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Supers battles were over way too quickly. Give us some firepower being thrown around, peope bashing each other with large, blunt objects, and a fealing that the Rider is not invincible. This is the only one that really bothered me.
Overall, I can’t complain. I give it a 3 out of 4. I’d give it a 2 & 1/2, but it’s nice to see a film which simulaneously makes my heart go faster than those action-packed Bob Ross painting specials, and isn’t a complete crapfest. In fact, I haven’t seen a better movie since last summer. That’s more a testament to the weakness of the movie lineup than the inherent goodness of Ghost Rider, but still. Catch a matinee.
Just got back from it. It was mediocre. I don’t mind the time or money spent on it, but I can’t say it was good. I have not read the source material, so I can’t say if it was faithful.
Overall, I enjoyed Spiderman much more, Hulk much less.
Nicolas Cage is one of the most irritating actors ever. And this movie looks like complete shit. Count me out on this one.
It was made here in Melbourne, though, so I expect there’ll be some landmarks I’ll recognise.
Early on in the movie, before Nick makes his appearance, I found myself wishing that the kid playing young Johnny would keep playing him. I thought he fit the role rather well.
Man, did Cleavage Mendez display her assets enough? I swear, it’s like she was trying do a topless scene.
Thanks! I couldn’t for the life of me figure out where it was filmed. I know it was mostly set in Texas, but I didn’t recognize the skyline at all.
I saw it today. It had some good moments, but the ending was anticlimactic and the movie was mediocre, altogether.
I liked it OK, I haven’t read the source material and had low expectations. We have an old art deco theater in my town, it’s not IMAX or anything, but it’s a big screen and good for FX. I did laugh out loud at some times that I don’t think were meant to be funny.
and yeah, the cleavage wranglers logged a little overtime
For someone not familiar with the comic (and only just now finding out it WAS a comic) this movie has serious WTF value.
I’ve seen the previews and each time his head catches on fire I’m like “huh”?
Does he fight crime? Is he a bad guy? It he like The Crow? Is this a comedy? How come the gas in his bike doesn’t explode? Why is he chugging coffee right from the pot?
I don’t get it.
My husband saw this yesterday with his dad. I was disappointed to find out it wasn’t a humourous movie. Glad I didn’t see it, now.
From the ‘shorts’ we’ve seen on TV, I’d really have *sworn *that it was a comedy-action, in that order.
They keep showing this scene where a woman is describing him and his flaming skull and stuff, and then says “It’s an ‘edge’ look, but he carried it off.” I thought that was really funny, and was looking forward to the comedy movie that went with it. :smack:
Amen to that!
Not knowing anything about the comic I enjoyed the movie. It had some nice wit, the above mentioned Ms. Mendes, and I LIKED the fact that the fight scenes were short and not drawn out. Too many movies (ie the Matrix sequels) rely on special effects to pad the movie with overly long fight scenes IMHO. My only nit pick is a tiny point that but was the fact that three times they used the incorrect American football term.
I’ve known the character, I’ve never read the comic book (but that doesn’t matter to me anyway, as I am a fan of the X-Men Comics and still liked the movies). My wife and I loved the movie. I thought it was a lot of fun. Like zamboniracer said above, I like that it didn’t try to rely on special effects just to pad the movie.
OK, I’m going out on a limb here, but am I the only one DOESN’T find Cleavage Mendez* all that attractive? I mean… yes; she has a killer body, but she just isn’t very ‘pretty’ (to me). If it weren’t for the biggun’s, and nice curves, I dont’ think I’d give her a second look. Ah well, different strokes for different folks.
I’m looking forward to the next one… two years from now. 
*“Cleavage Mendez” is officially a Lightnin’ trademark
I actually saw the thing twice this weekend.
The second time was better, as I knew which parts I could snooze during. Like the first 30 minutes.
Does anyone know who did the version of Ghost Riders in the Sky played over the closing credits?
Just got back from the theater. The credits say “Performed by Spiderbait”. Never heard of them, but I kind of like their sound.
He sold his soul to the devil in order to save his father’s life. He is possessed by a demon named Zarathos, whose Hellfire burns the flesh from his bones to create the Ghost Rider. He does not usually set out to fight crime, but evil men usually end up ticking him off, and he wreaks havoc on them. Johnny Blaze is a good guy. Zarathos is a bad guy. Johnny is usually in control of the Ghost Rider, but Zarathos gives him some nasty tendencies. No, it is not a comedy (not intentionally, anyway).
Hellfire is not physical, but spiritual. It is cold to the touch, but it sears your soul. (especially if your soul is tainted by sin.) In the first version of the comic, the entire bike was made of Hellfire.
I don’t remember the comic character having any particular caffiene habit. Your guess is as good as mine.